Shine A Light

I’ve followed this flick for some time now, and I’ve always had backdrop anticipation for seeing this film. Directed by Martin Scorsese you know that it’s going to be something fabulous. This isn’t Marty’s first venture into the behind-the-scenes musician film experience. He directed NO DIRECTION HOME a documentary on Bob Dylan, which is just phenomenal. I should revisit it soon, so I’ll right up a little review about it when I see it again. But it’s a great piece of cinematic art on Mr. Dylan.

Shine A Light Trailer

From the very first shots of SHINE A LIGHT I know that we’re in for an excellent journey through the concert experience with The Rolling Stones. The first 20-mintues are truly exciting to watch too. It isn’t actual concert footage; rather, it’s the work that goes in behind the scenes before the boys come out. We see Marty arranging shots, cameras, angles, and discussing the set list with other producers and production team members. It’s funny to see even Mr. Scorsese semi-frantic during the planning stages, and then the show begins.

The next 100-minutes is pure Rolling Stones concert footage. You can see Marty’s flare for directing as the camera swivels and cuts between the different Stones members through their setlist. There are a few times where interview footage is spliced in during the concert. Interview footage from like the 1960s when they were all new to the game. There is one excellent clip where Mick Jagger says he cannot see himself doing anything but this even till he is 60 – how foretelling! During Keith Richard’s lead songs there is a cut to an interview about him that is in my onpion extremely distracting and removes the viewers completely from the song he was singing. I don’t know if this was in the intention, but the interview along with the faded performance audio in the background didn’t work for me. I was trying to concentrate on both at the same time and instead I lost both parts in the shuffle.

There are a fe amazing moments throughout the film. That second where Marty yells “17” and the camera cuts to the front angle and we see Mick Jagger throw his arm into the air, admist all his fans and the song cuts. Spectacular. The specific moment I’m thinking of is during ‘Start Me Up’ – watch for it. The final shot is also quite amazing. I know it’s CG’d, but it looks seemless. When you see it you’ll know what I mean.

The special guest performers are also worthy of note: Buddy Guy, Jack White, and Christina Aguilera. My favorite being Buddy Guy’s song where he battles back and forth with Mick’s harmonica and Richard’s rhythm guitar. His voice is legendary and his style impeccable – what a treat it was to see him in action with his old friends. And the stones do look old in this film. They’ve got extra skin galore, but that doesn’t stop them from rocking the house. Their band chemistry is overly-apparent. You know that they are still as tightly knit as ever. Mick never lets up for a minute either – it makes you wonder how much nose snow he did before he went out on stage. If you’re a fan of the Stones, see this picture. I’m definitely more of a Beatles fan, but I appreciate the Stones and love a lot of their music – more of the less mainstream songs though. The film is beautifully shot, directed, and the set list is more eclectic than usual and it shines.

Rating: 9/10